Run Lloyd Run!

"Lloyd, wake up. Your nap time is over. Get ready for the last test," Alaya's voice pierced through Lloyd's dreams, making him groan and open his eyes. He saw her standing over him, holding a watch.

He rubbed his eyes and sat up, feeling a wave of fatigue and pain wash over him. He had been napping on a bench, trying to recover from the grueling tests he had endured for the past few hours.

"Argh, my whole body is still aching like hell, and on top of that, I still have to do a five-mile run!" He groaned at the thought of running.

He had done push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges, burpees, and more. He had pushed himself to the limit, but he still had one more challenge to face: the five-mile run.

'There's even a mile-long track underground too. What's the deal with that?' He said.

He looked at the track and was left flabbergasted.

'Now, what is this fucked-up track?' He spat out the words with disgust and frustration, his eyes scanning the uneven terrain of the track.

'Even a regular track would feel like hell in this condition, and I've got to run on this nightmare of a track!' He clenched his fists and felt a surge of anger, knowing he had no choice but to endure this test.

The fatigue caused him frustration. He was exhausted to death, and there seemed to be no end to these tests, which only fueled his frustration and irritation.

It was not a smooth or flat surface. It was a mixture of different terrains, each one testing his endurance and agility. He saw grass, dirt, rocks, sand, mud, water, and plateaus too. He knew he had to run through them all, without stopping or slowing down.

He got up from the bench and walked to the starting line, where Alaya was waiting for him.

"Ready?" She asked with a cheery smile.

"Saying no won't change anything, right?" He said.

She shook her head sideways.

He braced himself for the worst and began to run on the track. He struggled right from the beginning since he was exhausted. He had no energy left in his body, but he had to keep going. He had to finish the five-mile run, no matter what.

"I haven't even run a hundred meters, and my legs are already wobbly. Will I be able to complete a mile like this?" He said as his legs wobbled.

He ran through the grassy field, feeling the blades of grass tickle his ankles as he ran. He tried to ignore them, but they distracted him from his focus. He had to dodge the holes and rocks that dotted the ground, making him lose his balance and rhythm. He felt his legs burn and his lungs gasp, but he pushed through the pain.

"Haaa... This... place... Is a torture chamber," He said, surprised by how realistic these simulations looked and felt.

He reached the first mile and entered the forest.

"The only thing this place is missing is birds and animals," He added.

The trees provided some shade from the light, but they also blocked his view of the path ahead. He had to be careful not to trip over the roots and branches that crossed his way, making him slow down and stumble. Although there were no real birds or animals in the fake forest, the sounds of birds were being played to provide a realistic feel, but he tuned them out. He listened to his footsteps and his heartbeat.

As he completed the first lap and hit the second-mile mark, the terrain changed. He faced a rocky terrain with steep, wall-like structures that he had to climb.

"This isn't a run but a damn obstacle course!" He grunted.

He felt his muscles strain as he climbed the slope, using his arms to propel himself forward. He felt the sweat drip from his forehead and sting his eyes, but he wiped them away.

He reached the third-mile marker and crossed the rocky land. He encountered a sandy desert that stretched as far as he could see.

"What on earth!" He yelled.

He felt his feet sink into the soft sand as he ran, slowing him down. He felt the heat radiate from the ground and dry his mouth, but he swallowed hard. He glanced at the horizon and saw a mirage of water shimmering in the distance.

"Have mercy on me, for God's sake," He said.

No terrain was showing him any mercy. It was pushing him to his human limits. Alaya watched him suffer to complete the run. She felt pity but held herself back because it was for his own good.

He passed the fourth-mile marker and left the desert. He entered a swampy marsh that was filled with mud and water. He felt his shoes get wet and heavy as he ran, weighing him down. He felt the mud splash on his legs and face, but he shook it off. He smelled the rotten vegetation and the stagnant water, but he held his breath.

He reached the fifth-mile marker and exited the marsh. He faced a final stretch of asphalt that led to the finish line. He felt his energy drain as he ran, leaving him exhausted. He felt his mind wander and his vision blur, but he snapped out of it. He saw the finish line and heard the cheers of his teammates.

He crossed the finish line and collapsed on the ground. He had done it.

"I have done it! I have done it, you—" He held himself back from cursing as he noticed Alaya was in front of him.

He had finished the five-mile run with many bruises.

But it was not easy.

He had fallen several times along the way, but he had gotten up each time.

He had fallen on the grassy field when he stepped into a hole and almost twisted his ankle. He had gotten up and kept running.

He had fallen in the forest when he tripped over a branch and scraped his knee. He had gotten up and kept running.

He had fallen on the hill when he slipped on a rock and bruised his elbow. He had gotten up and kept running.

He had fallen in the desert when he stumbled on a cactus and pricked his hand. He had gotten up and kept running.

He had fallen on the marsh when he splashed into a puddle and soaked his clothes. He had gotten up and kept running.

He had fallen on the asphalt when he sprinted to the finish line and lost his balance. He had gotten up and crossed the finish line.

He had fallen, but he had not given up.

He had finished the five-mile run.

*****

Happy Janmashtami Y'all!

I haven't fasted but if you have fasted then best of luck my guy. It's tough ngl.

I know you guys already know but let me remind you guys again these ' '(single apostrophe) means the internal monologue of the character.

Now, let's have an internal monologue on my Discord server!

Discord: https://discord.gg/QyWy85y3G4

Cya all in the next chapter soon.

Bye-bye everyone!